I’ve always been a tequila girl. In my early 20s, that meant licking salt off my hand, throwing back a shot and sucking on a lime wedge. When my shot days (thankfully) ended, I switched to fresh lime margaritas—but the super-sweet, slushy version served in many restaurants felt more like dessert than a drink. Once I discovered the skinny margarita recipe, I never looked back.
What is a skinny margarita?
This drink is different from a standard margarita in one key way: It has far less sugar, which translates into fewer calories and fewer carbs. The best margarita recipes often call for Triple Sec, a sweetened orange liqueur. Some also add simple syrup.
In this skinny margarita recipe, we’re using freshly squeezed orange juice instead of Triple Sec and sweetening it with 1 teaspoon agave nectar. You get a hint of orange flavor and just enough sweetness, but you save about 50 calories and 5 grams sugar per drink.
Skinny Margarita Ingredients
- Silver tequila: Also labeled as “blanco” or “plata” tequila, this clear liquor is bottled soon after it’s distilled from the agave plant. Since silver tequila typically isn’t aged, it has a pure, bright flavor—the perfect tequila for margaritas.
- Fresh lime and orange juices: For a drink with so few ingredients, each one really matters, so squeeze your own citrus. To maximize the amount of juice you get from each lime, make sure it’s at room temperature—not cold—and roll it under your palm on the cutting board, pressing gently, before cutting it in half.
- Agave nectar: This natural sweetener comes from the same plant that becomes tequila. You only need a little to balance the tartness of the lime juice.
Directions
Step 1: Salt your glass
If desired, put a little kosher salt on a small plate. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of your margarita glass. Flip the glass upside-down, and press the rim into the salt, until it’s coated as much (or as little) as you like. Fill the glass with ice, and set aside.
Step 2: Shake it up
Place the tequila, lime and orange juices and agave nectar in an empty cocktail shaker or small Mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. Fill with ice. Cover and shake well for 15 to 20 seconds, until the cocktail is chilled and frothy.
Step 3: Strain and serve
Strain the margarita into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Skinny Margarita Variations
Now that you’ve mastered a basic skinny margarita, add other flavors to the mix:
- Skinny fruity margarita: Swap another fruit juice in for the orange for a fun twist. This works really well with tropical fruits like mango, passion fruit or pineapple.
- Frozen skinny margarita: For more fruit flavor, blend your skinny margarita ingredients with 1/2 cup frozen fruit—think strawberries, watermelon or cherries.
- Spicy skinny margarita: Thinly slice a jalapeno, and add two (or three) slices to the cocktail shaker before pouring in the other ingredients. Press on the chile slices with a spoon to muddle, then proceed with the recipe.
Can you make skinny margaritas ahead of time?
Absolutely! Combine the tequila, juices and agave nectar without adding ice, and refrigerate for up to three days. Just before you want to drink it, shake your skinny margarita mixture with ice as described in the recipe, and serve.
Skinny Margarita Tips
What goes on the rim of a skinny margarita?
No rule says you have to put anything on the rim. In fact, some say salt only serves to balance the sweetness in many margarita recipes! If you do want to rim your glass, coarse salt is traditional. For fun, mix the salt with citrus zest, chipotle powder, or finely chopped herbs. Or pick up some Tajin, a delightful Mexican seasoning blend of chiles, lime and salt—a perfect complement for margaritas.
How do you make skinny margaritas for a crowd?
It’s easy to make a pitcher of skinny margaritas: Pour 3 cups silver tequila, 2-1/4 cups fresh lime juice, 1-1/2 cups fresh orange juice and 1/4 cup agave nectar into a large pitcher filled with ice. Stir vigorously, then pour into glasses of ice and serve. (Not ready to serve right away? Skip the ice, and refrigerate the pitcher. Just before serving, add ice and stir again.)
